Rs 63 Crore in 17 Days: The Odyssey Becomes India's No. 1 IMAX Film

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has become the highest grossing IMAX release in India, collecting Rs 63 crore from just 34 IMAX screens in 17 days and surpassing the lifetime IMAX earnings of Oppenheimer (Rs 50 crore). The achievement makes Nolan the only filmmaker whose films occupy the top two spots among India's biggest IMAX releases. The film has also crossed Rs 200 crore across all formats in India and more than $900 million worldwide, with over $220 million coming from IMAX screens alone. It also delivered the biggest IMAX opening ever for a Nolan film and the biggest IMAX debut for a Universal Pictures release, with IMAX contributing around 20 per cent of its global opening weekend revenue.

Warner Bros. Discovery credited the record breaking run to an extensive promotional campaign that started with Nolan and several cast members attending the film's India premiere in Mumbai in July. Videos and digital content from the event generated more than 50 million views, while Nolan's stop for tea in Mumbai went viral, crossing 20 million views on Universal Pictures India's Instagram page alone. The campaign continued after release with fan reaction videos, creator collaborations, exhibitor events and exclusive IMAX experiences.

Audiences visiting participating IMAX cinemas received one of four limited edition character pins, exclusive IMAX T shirts, artwork posters and, during the second week, limited 70mm IMAX film strips from the movie. Special ticket prices and advance bookings were also introduced during Nolan's birthday celebrations to encourage repeat viewing. Warner Bros. said these initiatives helped keep audience interest high throughout the theatrical run.

The film's impact has spread far beyond theatres. It is reported that UK sales of The Odyssey have surged by around 1,400 per cent, while combined sales of The Odyssey and The Iliad now account for nearly 12 per cent of Britain's poetry market. In the US, The Hollywood Reporter said the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale became the country's highest grossing 70mm venue for the film after returning to first run screenings for the first time in 35 years. The success has prompted the theatre to expand its programming. Meanwhile, Sicily's Favignana Island, one of the film's key shooting locations, is preparing for a tourism boom with exhibitions, guided tours and displays of costumes and props used during production.

In India, PVR INOX, Cinepolis India and Miraj Entertainment said strong word of mouth turned The Odyssey into more than a one weekend success. Many fans returned for second and third viewings, while others travelled from Hyderabad, Indore and Nagpur to experience the film at Mumbai's Miraj IMAX screen. Despite the release of Spider Man: Brand New Day, the film continues to attract packed IMAX shows. Industry experts that the success of both films shows Indian audiences are increasingly choosing premium large screen experiences. However, India still has no operational commercial IMAX 70mm projector, meaning viewers cannot watch the film in Nolan's preferred format.